Golf swing training club

ABSTRACT

A golf swing training club is provided which has a scoop guard substantially parallel to the rear face of the club head The scoop guard has a blade edge terminating substantially within the plane of the club sole. The scoop guard encourages a desirable downward swing as it will contact the ground prior to the club sole, if the club swing path arc is too great, or too flat, causing the golf ball to be mis-hit. A removable grip weight provides a swing pivot point, encourages a downward swing and contributes to muscle memory.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The instant invention relates to a golf club useful for training players to strike downward on a golf ball which prevents scooping the ball. The training club incorporates a weighted grip to encourage muscle memory.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Many training devices are known which are intended to improve the skills of golfers. One problem which is encountered by novice and experienced golfers alike, is the tendency to scoop the ball at impact by throwing, or casting, the club during the downswing. By increasing or exaggerating the downswing arc, players tend to scoop the ball which results in the ball loosing distance and gaining too much altitude. Scooping may also result in a slice because the increased swing distance urges the golf club head to impart an outward to inward impact on the ball. It is preferred to strike downward on the golf ball, allowing the loft of the club head to dictate the trajectory.

[0003] No known golf training devices are specifically designed to encourage a golfer to train their swing for a specifically downward striking pattern. Many golf club training aids are not suitable to take to a practice range or onto the golf course for practice rounds. Moreover, many known training clubs can not be used to actually strike golf balls and are limited to train the muscles to “groove” the golf swing. It is desirable to provide a golf swing training club which can be used to strike balls while ingraining a correct downward swing path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to a golf swing training club that encourages a downward striking pattern and which will facilitate muscle memory of the desirable striking pattern.

[0005] The training club, which can be any golf iron, includes a shaft with a grip at one end and a club head at the opposite end. A standard club head, having the features of a readily available golf iron is used. Either a blade type or cavity back iron can be manufactured in accordance with the described invention.

[0006] A scoop guard is attached along a line on the rear face of a golf iron, spanning from adjacent the club toe to the hosel, substantially parallel to the club sole. The scoop guard extends perpendicular away from the rear face of the club a predetermined distance where it turns downward.

[0007] It is preferred that the scoop guard touches, but does not intrude into, the ground when the club head is rested on the ground in a pre-shot golf stance. The terminal edge of the scoop guard should extend to a plane substantially perpendicular to the front edge of the sole of the club head.

[0008] This scoop guard configuration requires the practicing golfer to strike generally downward on the golf ball. Many golfers incorrectly believe that a larger downward swing arc results in longer golf shots. Others feel a natural need to “scoop” the ball into the air rather than relying on the loft of the club face to dictate the angle of ball flight.

[0009] The tendency to extend the downward swing arc is removed after a few poorly hit practice shots. Downward swing patterns in which the golfer extends the arms too far from the desired arc results in the scoop guard engaging the ground prior to the club face striking the ball. This causes skied shots and may attribute to a generally outside to inside swing pattern which has been identified as one cause of a sliced or pushed shot from left to right for a right-handed golfer.

[0010] The described scoop guard teaches the practicing golfer to strike downward on the ball, thereby allowing the loft of the club face to determine the angle of ball flight. A correct downward swing pattern maintains the club face in the desired orientation respective to the ground and golf ball. When correctly maneuvered through the downward swing, the club face leads the scoop guard and engages the ground first, clearing a path for the scoop guard by creating a slight divot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive device

[0012]FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the inventive device

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back surface of the golf club head showing another embodiment of the device.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back surface of the golf club head showing a different embodiment of the device.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back surface of the golf club head showing yet another embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is directed to a golf swing training club that encourages a downward striking pattern and squaring the club face at the point of impact with the golf ball. While it is preferred that the inventive training club be a short iron, it can be configured from any golf iron, including both cavity back or blade type irons.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is shown incorporated in a short, cavity backed iron 100 having a shaft 102 with a grip 104 at one end and a club head 108 at the opposite end. A standard club head 108, having the features of a readily available golf iron is used. The club head 108 is more particularly described as having a hosel end 10 for attachment to the shaft 102 and a spaced-apart toe 112. A standard golf ball striking surface spans substantially from the hosel end 110 to the toe 112 and forms the face 114 of the club head 108. A sole 116, or grounding surface of the club head has a forward edge 118 and a rear edge 120. An upper edge 121 spans the club head 108 from the toe 112 to the hosel end 110.

[0018] A scoop guard 122 is attached along a line on the a rear face 115 of the club head 108, spanning from a point substantially adjacent the toe 112 to a point substantially adjacent the hosel 110, and substantially parallel to the club sole. While the scoop guard 122 can be attached at any position on the rear face 115 between the upper edge 121 and the sole 116, it is preferred that the attachment point is substantially adjacent the sole 116. The attachment position may vary depending on the specific formation of the rear face 115 as that surface is generally unique to each manufacturer.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the scoop guard 122 is a blade 124 which extends, generally perpendicularly outward from the rear face 115 to a bend 126 which directs blade in a generally downward orientation extending away from the rear face 115. The blade 124 terminates at a blade edge 128 which lies generally within a plane defined by a line perpendicular to the forward edge 118 of the sole 116. The blade edge 128 may extend downward beyond the forward edge 118. The distance from the forward edge 118 and the blade edge 128 is preferably from one and a half to two and a half inches, but can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate players with specific needs.

[0020] An optional removable weight 132 may be added near the grip 104 of the club 100. The additional weight 132 is preferably mounted at the end 106 of the grip 104, so that it is between the player's hands and body, when the hands engage the grip 104. This placement of the weight 132 stabilizes the club 100 during the backswing and downswing. Further, the weight 132 improves muscle memory thereby ingraining a desired swing pattern more quickly than occurs absent the weight 132. This also encourages a “pull down” swinging motion instead of the common problem known as “casting.” In addition, it has been determined that utilizing a weight of between 12 and 18 ounces slows the swing speed during practice. When the weight is removed, the player will experience greater swing speed and consequent greater ball distance.

[0021] It is preferred that the scoop guard 122 is integrally cast or forged to the rear face 115 of the club head 108 as shown in FIG. 2. However, other attachments may be advantageous for retrofitting existing clubs. As shown in FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the invention, the scoop guard 122 is formed with a clip 134 which can be selectively engaged into a receiving retainer 136 on the rear face 115 of the club head 108. In another configuration the scoop guard 122 is removeably attached to the hosel 110 as shown in FIG. 4. Yet another configuration shown in FIG. 5, comprises an attachment for the scoop guard 122 at the upper surface 121 of the club head 108. Attachment for this embodiment may include hook and loop fasteners or similar retaining devices to increase the stability of the scoop guard 122.

[0022] Having specifically described illustrative embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf swing training club comprising: a shaft; a grip; a club head having a hosel, a toe, a sole, striking surface and a rear face; and a scoop guard fixed to the rear face of the club head
 2. The golf swing training club of claim 1 wherein the scoop guard is spaced-apart from approximately one and a half inches to approximately two and a half inches from a forward edge of the sole.
 3. The golf swing training club of claim 1 further comprising a weight removably mounted proximate the grip.
 4. The golf swing training club of claim 3 wherein the weight is removably mounted proximate a terminal end of the grip.
 5. The golf swing training club of claim 2 wherein the sole is further defined by a forward edge and a rear edge and the scoop guard terminates at a plane substantially perpendicular to the forward edge of the sole.
 6. The golf swing training club of claim 2 wherein the scoop guard is removably attached to the rear face of the club head
 7. The golf swing training club of claim 1 wherein the scoop guard is removably attached to the hosel.
 8. The golf swing training club of claim 1 wherein the scoop guard is removably attached to a top surface of the club head.
 9. The golf swing training club of claim 5 wherein the scoop guard extends beyond a plane substantially perpendicular to the forward edge of the sole.
 10. The golf swing training club of claim 5 wherein the scoop guard terminates prior to a plane substantially perpendicular to the forward edge of the sole.
 11. The golf swing training club of claim 1 wherein the scoop guard is integrally cast to the club head.
 12. The golf swing training club of claim 1 wherein the scoop guard is integrally forged with the club head. 